The Liga Dominicana de Fútbol is the top division for association football in the Dominican Republic, it was created on September 16, 2014. The league begun in March 2015.
The Dominican Football Federation announced the creation of the Dominican Football League (LDF), in a ceremony held at the Ambassador Hotel Santo Domingo. The ceremony was attended by President of CONCACAFJeffrey Webb, President of the Dominican Olympic Committee Luisín Mejia, the vice-minister of sports Marcos Diaz among others.
Ten teams participate in this league.
Football in the Dominican Republic
Football is the fourth most popular sport in the Dominican Republic, as baseball, basketball and volleyball are more popular.[citation needed] In recent years football has gained in popularity, particularly among young people. In 2001 the national association celebrated its first significant success, with the U-23 team winning the Copa de Las Antillas. The Dominican Republic has not yet qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026.
The first Goal Project
FIFA vice-president Jack Warner opened the Dominican Republic FAs new centre for football development on 2 July 2003. The building can be found just outside the city of San Cristobal. The first phase, involving building offices for the national association and classrooms for the people attending the courses of the various training programmes, will be financed by the Goal Programme, with extra funds coming from the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme. In the second phase, due to be completed by the end of 2003, various technical facilities, such as playing pitches and accommodation for players and coaches, will be constructed. The government has also donated 25 acres (100,000 m2) of land as part of this project.
Project
Centre for football development in San Cristobal
project approved
4 March 2002
Status
Opened on 2 July 2003
Total cost
USD 430,922
Goal
USD 400,000
FAP
USD 30,922
Second Goal project
The San Cristobal centre for football development inaugurated in July 2003 will be raised by one storey to accommodate bedrooms and medical rooms. A separate building nearby contains dressing rooms and toilets for everyone using the different pitches that also belong to the training centre. This extension is the culmination of the original plan for a fully equipped and functioning technical centre, funded by Goal and partly by the associations own resources.
Financing of Goal project
Project
Extension of project 1 to the training centre
Project approved on
15 March 2006
Status
Implementation
Total cost
USD 535,221 Financed by
Goal
USD 400,000
FAP
USD 135,221
Other FIFA development activities
Until 1990
2 courses
1992, 1999
Futuro courses
1990
Olympic Solidarity course
Old logo
References
^"Jamaica get 1966 soccer tourney". Kingston Gleaner in newspaperarchive.com. 2 April 1964. "The Federation approved the re-incorporation of the Dominican Republic into the organization, while Trinidad and Puerto Rico were accepted as new members."